Australian National Cycling Strategy 2011-2016

The Australian National Cycling Strategy 2011-2016 was published in September 2010 published by Austroads Ltd and the Australian Bicycle Council. Â The Strategy has been developed as a coordinating framework identifying responsibilities that lie with the various governments of all levels, community and industry stakeholders to encourage and facilitate increased cycling in Australia; it has the lofty aim of doubling the number people cycling in Australia by 2016. Â The strategy sets out actions, with targets, timeframes and resources that will are designed to encourage the continued gowth of cycling as an important component of Australiaâ€™s transport system.

The Strategy has the overarching vision as mentioned of doubling the number of people cycling by 2016 (within five years). The benchmark and target in respect to this overarching vision are yet to set by July 2011. Â In support of this overarching vision the Strategy has six priorities which are supported with objectives and action points (dot points below). They are:

Priority 1: Cycling Promotion – Promote cycling as both a viable and safe mode of transport and an enjoyable recreational activity. The related action points are:

Marketing and educational programs to promote the benefits of cycling and to encourage short trip cycling;

Marketing and educational programs to encourage the take up of cycling as a recreational activity;

Work with employees to develop cyclist-friendly workplace facilities and projects.

Priority 2: Infrastructure and facilities – Create a comprehensive and continuous network of safe and attractive routes to cycle and end-of-trip facilities.

All jurisdictions to invest in developing local on-road and off-road cycling networks that are consistent with national standards;

State and local governments to develop end-of-trip facilities that it possible for people to cycle, including considering the introduction of regulations to mandate the provision of facilities;

Austroads to ensure it guides recognise and promote best practice in the design and provision of cycling infrastructure and facilities.

Priority 3: Integrated planning – Consider and address cycling needs in all relevant transport and land use planning activities.

All states and territories to develop and publish state or territory cycling action plans;

Local governments to take into consideration the state plans together with community aspirations, priorities and available resources when developing local area cycling action plans;

All states and local governments to ensure that all their land use planning and infrastructure strategy documents take into account active transport needs.

Priority 4: Safety – Enable people to cycle safely

All states Â to monitor and report on crashes involving cyclists, identifying type, number and severity of crashes for rural, regional and metropolitan areas;

All states Â to identify appropriate counter measures for bicycle crashes for rural, regional and metropolitan areas;

The Australian Bicycle Council (ABC) to seek to partner with research institutions to continue and expand on current work to analyse the data received from states to assess the causes of crashes and injuries and make recommendations about how to increase the safety of cyclists;

All jurisdictions to continue to develop and implement programs that target road safety and people’s perception of the safety of cycling;

States to facilite the roll out of a nationally consistent community bicycle skills training program;

States to aim to support the delivery of cycling proficiency and related road safety training for all school students aged between 10 and 14.

Priority 5: Monitoring and evaluation – Improve monitoring and evaluation of cycling programs and develop a national decision-making process for investment in cycling.

States to agree on baseline and targets for measuring progress against the goal to double cycling participation across Australia. Â This target should be structured as a composite indicator, reflecting cycling for the purpose of travelling to work/study, recreational cycling and bicycle ownership;

All states to develop and implement a nationwide approach to data collection and to submit annual monitoring reports to the ABC Secretariat;

The ABC to develop an agreed decision-making process, including a robust basis for assessing the costs and benefits of investment in cycling.

Priority 6: Guidance and best practice – Support the development of nationally consistent guidance for stakeholders to use and share best practice across jurisdictions.

The ABC to support the publication of nationally consistent guidance on the following issues

reviewing the Australian Road Rules in relation to cyclists and to promote amendments to make cycling safer;

information in bike shops on local cycling matters;

low cost innovations that will enable or encourage increased cycling.

To support local governments the ABC will

conduct a new local government survey in 2012 as part of the longitudinal study commenced in 2007;

develop guidance for local governments on how to develop an effective cycling plan;

engage with local governments on a regular basis in each state including organising forums;

further develop its relationship with Australian universities to build technical capacity in local governments by ensuring sustainable transport issues are reflected in research, vocational and academic programs.

The ABC will monitor cycling policy issues and identify new areas which require guidance;

Individual members of the ABC to provide detailed information about best practices case studies for inclusion on the Cycling Resource Centre, including lessons learned and details of relevant contacts.

The full Strategy can be downloaded here. In addition to the above the Strategy covers the following topics:

Chapter 2: What cycling can do for Australia;

Chapter 3: Progress over the past five years (review of the 2005-2010 National Cycling Strategy outcomes)

Chapter 4: The Strategy Vision (as outlined above)

Chapter 5: Governance and Monitoring

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About Aushiker

Andrew Priest is a bicycle rider and bushwalker and a passionate advocate of cycling and rider road safety. He is mainly a commuter, bicycle tourist and occasional Audax rider. You can find Andrew on Google+, on Facebook and on Twitter